JONES HAT-TRICK ROCKS GIBRALTAR

WALES 6 (C Jones (Rhyl) 3, 9, 73 pen; Davies 31, 33; Bond 80)
GIBRALTAR 2 (B Perez pen 45, Green 55)
RHYL'S Craig Jones was the star of the show as his hat-trick helped Wales to a convincing victory over a lively and enthusiastic Gibraltar side at Belle Vue on Thursday night.
The result means Wales lie second in the Four Nations Semi-Professional Tournament table behind England, who scraped another 1-0 win over Scotland.
Saturday's final game at Belle Vue between Wales and England will be the championship decider. The English need only a draw to keep their crown, but a Wales win would see them finish top.
Thursday's clash saw Welsh manager Tony Pennock hand starts to Jones, who came on as a late sub in the 1-1 draw with Scotland, and Bangor City's Les Davies, who did not feature at all against the Scots.
The move certainly worked for as well as Jones' trio of goals, the influential Davies scored twice himself in a blistering first half display from the hosts.
While Cymru were guilty of poor finishing at times against Scotland, they were sharp and ruthless against the Rockmen.
Gibraltar had impressed two nights earlier in a narrow 1-0 defeat against England and certainly had their moments at Rhyl, but they paid the price for defensive naiveity, especially from set pieces.
Wales took a third minute lead when a blistering shot by Davies from 20 yards was kept out by visiting keeper Jordan Perez, but the quicksilver Craig Jones was first to the loose ball and he made it 1-0.
In the seventh minute a Paul Keddle cross was met by a powerful header from Chad Bond, but this time Perez was able to tip on to the bar and over.
Three Wales corners followed and from the third of them by Llanelli's Craig Jones, his Rhyl namesake headed in at the far post.
Wales were unstoppable at this point. Bond latched on to a through ball from Chris Thomas but blasted wide, then Davies was off target with a header from a centre by Rhyl's Jones.
Lee Casciaro had a golden chance for Gib from a corner but hurriedly thundered over, then Al Green made sweet music with a fierce drive to the near post which Lee Idzi did well to hold.
Davies tested Perez before Wales went 3-0 up on 31 minutes. Llanelli's Jones crossed from the left and Davies arrived like a battering ram to head home.
Two minutes later it was the same combination, Davies heading into the left hand corner.
Chris Venables' free-kick was pushed over by the overworked Perez, but then right on half time the visitors pulled one back.
Idzi brought down the pacy Casciaro in the box and referee Karl Evans had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, Brian Perez confidently firing home.
This gave Gibraltar the boost they needed and the early stages of the second half saw them threaten up front with the combined speed and skills of Green and Casciaro most prominent.
The pair must have decided 'let's stay together' as in the 55th minute Casciaro slipped a lovely pass to Green whose shot found its way into the bottom corner, although Idzi should have perhaps done better.
On the hour Casciaro was clean through, but this time Idzi blocked well with his legs. Had Gib made it 4-3 at that point it could have made things very interesting.
Bond stabbed wide on six yards before the ex-Port Talbot man was chopped down in the area by Chisum Sanchez and Wales were awarded a spot-kick in the 73rd minute.
Craig Jones stepped up to calmly find the left hand corner to complete his hat-trick and make it 5-2.
Wales added a sixth on 80 minutes when Rhyl's Jones crossed low from the left, substitute Rhys Griffiths should have finished, but the ball ran to Bond who had the easiest of tasks to find the empty net.
Gibraltar's players did their territory proud and their national anthem, which was warmly applauded, must rate as one of the finest pieces of music heard at Belle Vue since Ian Johnson blasted out Barclay James Harvest.
WALES: Idzi (Pritchard 88), Thomas, Keddle, Parslow (Critchell 81), Surman, Venables (Harris 66), Craig Jones (L) (Byrne 58), Fowler, Davies (Griffiths 77), Bond, Craig Jones (R). Unused subs: G Jones, Evans.